IPL 2026: Virat Kohli Teases Shubman Gill, Pulls His New Style Beard; Watch Video

Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill shared a light-hearted moment at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala before the IPL 2026 Qualifier 1. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru icon greeted the Gujarat Titans captain ahead of their high-stakes clash on Tuesday, drawing strong interest across social media platforms.

In a video from the ground, Shubman Gill is first seen speaking with Royal Challengers Bengaluru vice-captain Jitesh Sharma near the boundary line. Virat Kohli then walks into the scene, after which Gill quickly moves towards Kohli, and the pair exchange a warm hug before their crucial playoff meeting.

Virat Kohli Shubman Gill IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 interaction and playoff stakes

Kohli does not stop at the embrace, choosing to tease the Gujarat Titans skipper in a friendly way. Kohli reaches out to examine Shubman Gill’s beard and then gently pulls Gill’s cheek, making both players laugh. The clip underlines the respect between the senior batter and the younger captain.

While the light exchange entertains fans, the cricket context remains serious, with both sides chasing the IPL 2026 title. Royal Challengers Bengaluru face Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 on Tuesday, and the winner secures a direct place in the final scheduled in Ahmedabad on May 31.

Virat Kohli Shubman Gill IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 form and playoff line-up

Virat Kohli continues as Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s leading run-scorer this season, with 557 runs from 14 league matches. The 37-year-old records one century and four half-centuries during the group stage, keeping Royal Challengers Bengaluru in strong batting form ahead of the knockout phase.

How happy Gill looked seeing Virat, and the way Virat pulled Gill’s cheeks, it’s so cute pic.twitter.com/fSv3RMmkDi

— nysa (@chalkalaana) May 24, 2026

Shubman Gill also enjoys a prolific season and remains firmly in the Orange Cap race. Gill sits second on the overall scoring list with 616 runs from 14 games for Gujarat Titans. Only Gill’s teammate Sai Sudharsan has more, topping the chart on 638 runs before the playoffs.

The full Indian Premier League 2026 playoff line-up is now confirmed. Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Titans and Sunrisers Hyderabad seal qualification earlier, while Rajasthan Royals clinch the last spot after a 30-run victory over Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday, ending Mumbai’s hopes this season.

Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals meet in the eliminator on Wednesday, where defeat means immediate exit. The winner of that contest moves to the second qualifier to face the loser of Royal Challengers Bengaluru versus Gujarat Titans. One caption from the viral video reads, "How happy Gill looked seeing Virat, and the way Virat pulled Gill's cheeks".

Fans now look toward Dharamsala and Ahmedabad, where personal friendships will pause once the matches begin. Virat Kohli’s experience, Shubman Gill’s form, and the confirmed playoff schedule together shape a tense final phase of the IPL 2026 season.